Permutation lock



May 17,1927; G. M. THOMAS PERMUTATION LOCK Filed Oct. .15. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor R 6 eazyej'f 27072246;

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Attorny May 17, 1927. 1,629,239

. G. M. THOMAS PERMUTATION LOCK Filed Oct. 1a. 1926 2. Shee'ts-Sheeli 2 aim Attorney Patented May 17, 1.927.

nnrr srrss GEORGE M. rnoivrAs, or WAYLAND, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR or'oNn-Tnmn '10 rn'rEa GARZONI AND ONE-THIRD TO JOE GRAHONIA, BOTH F WAYLAND, KENTUCKY.

PEBMUTATION LOCK.

Application filed October 13, 1926. Serial No. 141,377.

The present invention relates to a permutation lock, and is particularly adapted for use with an improved ignition switch struction, easy to manipulate by those cognizant of the combination, inexpensive to manufacture, eiiicient and reliable in use, compact and convenient, and otherwise well adapted to the purpose for which it is designed.

With the above and numerous other objects in view as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in certain features of construction, and in the combination and arrangement 7, of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings Figure l is a front elevation of the device embodying the features of my invention,

Figure 2 is a rear elevation thereof with the back plateremoved,

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken substantially'on the line 33 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a central vertical section through the device,

Figure 5 is a detail horizontal section taken substantially upon the line 55 of Figure 1,

Figure 6 plate, and

Figure 7 is a perspective view of, the slide.

Referring to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the numeral 5 denotes-a casing which has the rear side thereof open. Adjacent the open edge of the casing and on diametrically opposite sides thereof there are provided ap'ert ured ears 6. A closure plate 7 is provided with similar apertured ears 8 so that bolts 9 or the like may pierce these apertured ears 6 and 8 and suitable openmgs in a dash board 9 for example in order is an inside elevation of the back to mount the device. An opening 10 is provided in the bottom of the casing 5. A block 11 is mounted in the lower portion of the casing being preferably attached to the back plate 7 by screws 12 or in any other suitable manner. This block in its forward portion is provided with a recess 14 having an upper elongated opening 15 and a lower opening 16 registering with the opening 10. A plurality of discs 17 are mounted in the recess 14: of the block 11 and project through a rectangular opening 18 in the front wall of the casing 5. discs are preferably corrugated or otherwise roughened so that they may be easilymanipulated and are further provided with indicia such as numerals indicated clearly in Figure 1. The upper and lower surfaces of each disc are provided with annular grooves concentric with respect to the center thereof. Rings 21 extend into the grooves 18 at the abutting surfaces of the discs 17 so as to hold them assembled in concentric relation and allow themto rotate independently of each other. The upper surface of the upper disc and the lower; surface of the lowest disc have their grooves engaged by pins 22 carried by the blocs 11 as is indicated in Figure 5 and also indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1. These pins 22, of course, hold the assembly of the discs in place.- The discs are provided with oblong openings 2 1. 1 One end of each opening is located coaxially with the disc, while the other end thereof is OK center. An elongated stem 24 projects through the opening 10 and through the openings 2% up into the upper portion of the casing. The outer lower end of the stem terminates in an enlarged knob 25. Adjacent the inner end of the stem 24: there is located thereabout a stop collar 26 held in place by a set screw 27. Thus the stem is prevented from accidental displacement."

A slide 28 is provided with an elongated opening 29 having at its ends offset notches 30, as is clearly illustrated in Figures 3 and 7. The stem 24: normally has its upper end disposed in one of these notches 80. The front edge of the slide is provided with an elongated horizontal rib 31 which is slidable The peripheries of these ice in a horizontal slot 32 inthe front wall positioned as is shown in Figure 4, that is with the oblong openings 24 in full registry, the slide maybe moved from side to side since the stem 24 is free to .rock so as to be forced out of whichever notch it may be engaged in. However, if one or more of the discs 17 are rotated to any other posi tion than that shown in Figure 4 it will be seen that this rocking motion of the stem 24 is prevented. It will also be seen that when the parts are disposed as shown in Figure 4 and the stem 24 is inclinedout of either of the notches 30 it will be forced back into one of the notches 30 upon rotation of one or more of the discs 17 else the discs 17 cannot be rotated if it should happen that the upperend of the stem is disposed in the slot 29 adjacent its center. It will be quite obvious that a person knowing the proper combination'will be able to rotate the discs 1'? so that they may be placed in the un locking position shown in Figure 4. It is preferable to provide a mark such as is shown at 34 on the casing to assist one in properly aligning the proper numbers on the discs. In the present example of the invention the combination would be 01- 34.

It is quite apparent that the slide 28 may be used to good advantage in operating almost any member which it is desired to lock in two different positions. However, by way of example and preference, I have shown this slide member associated with switch elements and still more particularly with switch elements such as would be used in looking and unlocking an ignition system of an automobile. In carrying out. this example it will be seen that the slide 28 has fixed in a groove extending vertically of its rear face a fiber or insulating plate 35 preferably held in place by a screw 36. A contact plate 37 isriveted or otherwise fastened to the insulating plate 35 as at 38 and has a central opening through which access may be had to the screw 36. On the back plate 7 there are assembled in any suitable manner insulating blocks 39 in superposed relation and having terminals 40 associated therewith. Spring contacts 41 are carried by the blocks 39 and are connected by leads 42 to the terminals 40. Obviously the terminals 40 will be properly associated with the ignition wiring system so that when a circuit is to be closed, the contacts 41 must be bridged by the contact plate 37. Obviously, this occurs when the slide is in the left hand position, referring particularly to Figures 1 and 3. i

It is thought that the construction, operation, and advantages of this invention 7 will now be clearly understood without a more detailed description thereof. It will be seen that the structure is assembled and does away with the necessity of an automobile owner carrying a key, and provides a permutation lock structure that may be readily and quickly manipulated by those cognizant with the combination. The presentembodiment of the invention has been disclosed in detail merely by way of example since in actual practice it attains the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the above description. It will be apparent that changes in the details of construction, in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed or sacrificing any of its ad vantages.

Having thus described the invention, what claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a permutation lock, aplurality of coaxially rotatable discs having registrable oblong openings, one end of each opening being in line with the axis of rotation of the discs at all times, and a stem projecting through the openings, said stem being capable of a rocking motion when the oblong openings are fully registered and prevented from rocking motion when one or more of the openings are out of full registry.

2. A permutation lock including, in con bination, a casing having an opening therein, a plurality of discs, means for mounting the discs for coaxial. rotation, said discs be ing provided with registrable oblong openings, one end of each opening being in line with the axis of rotation of the discs, a stem projecting through theopening in the caging and through the openings in the discs so as to be capable of rocking when the discs are disposed with their oblong openings fully registered in one direction.

3. A permutation lock including, in combination, a casing having an opening therein, a plurality of discs, means for mounting the discs for coaxial rotation, said discs being provided with registrable oblong openings, one end of each opening being in line with the axis of rotation of the discs, a stem projecting through the opening in the casing and through the openings in the discs so as to be capable of rocking when the discs are disposed with their oblong openings fully registered in one direction, and a slide mounted in the casing and having an elongated slot for receiving the stem and having offset terminal notches at the ends of the slot registrable with the axis of rotation of the discs.

4. A permutation loci: of the class described including, in combination, a casing having an opening in the bottom, a block mounted in the casing and having a recess, a plurality of discs rotatable in the recess, said discs being provided on their upper and lower surfaces with annular grooves,

rings in the grooves of the abutting surfaces, said block having pins projecting into the uppermost groove and the lowermost groove, said casing having a rectangular opening through which a portion of the discs project to allow them to be rotated, said discs being provided with oblong openings, one end of each oblong opening being in line with the axis of rotation of the discs, a stem extending through the first mentioned opening of the casing and through the oblong openings of the discs so that it may be rocked when the discs are in a predetermined position with their oblong openings fully registrable.

, 5. A permutation lock of the class described including, in combinatlon, a casing having an opening in the bottom, a block mounted in the casing and having a recess, a plurality of discs rotatable in the recess, said discs being provided on their upper and lower surfaces with annular grooves, rings in the grooves of the abutting surfaces, said block having pins projecting into the uppermost groove and the lowermost groove, said casing having a rectangular opening through which a portion of the discs project to allow them to be rotated, said discs being provided with oblong openings, one end of each oblong opening being in line with the axis of rotation of the discs, a stem extending through the first mentioned opening of the casing and through the oblong openings of the discs so that it may be rocked when the discs are in a predetermined position with their oblong openings fully registrable, the outer end of the stem being provided with an enlarged knob, and a stop collar on the inner end thereof to prevent accidental removal of the stem.

6. A permutation lock of the class described including, in combination, a casing having an opening in the bottom. a block mounted in the casing and having a recess, a plurality of discs rotatable in the recess, said discs being provided on their upper and lower surfaces with annular grooves, rings in the grooves of the abutting surfaces, said block having pins projecting into the uppermostgroove and the lowermost groove, said casing having a rectangular opening through which a portion of the discs project to allow them to be rotated, said discs being provided with oblong openings, one

end of each oblong opening being in line with the axis of rotation of the discs, a stem extending through the first mentioned opening of the casing and through the oblong openings of the discs so that it may be rocked when the discs are in a predetermined position with their, oblong openings fully registrable, the outer end of the stem being provided with an enlarged knob, a stop collar on the inner end thereof to prevent accidental removal of the stem, a slide mounted in the upper portion of the casing and having a slot disposed outside of the axis of rotation of the discs, said slide being pro vided at the ends of the slot with offset notches registrable with the axis of rotation of the discs.

7. A permutation lock of the class described including, in combination, a casing having an opening in the bottom, a block mounted in the casing and having a recess, a plurality of discs rotatable in the recess, said discs being provided on their upper andlower surfaces with annular grooves, rings in the grooves of the abutting surfaces, said block having pins projecting into the uppermost groove and the lowermost groove, said casing having a rectangular opening through which a portion of the discs project to allow them tobe rotated, said discs being provided With oblong openings, one end of each oblong opening being in line with the axis of rotation of the discs, a stem extending through the first mentioned opening of the casing and through the oblong openings of the discs so that it may be rocked when the discs are in a predetermined position with their oblong openings fully registrable, the outer end of the stem being provided with an enlarged knob, a stop collar on the inner end thereof to pre vent accidental removal of the stem, a slide mounted in the upper portion of the casing and having a slot disposed outside of the axis of rotation of the discs, said slide being provided at the ends of the slot with offset notches registrable with the axis of rotation of the discs, said casing being provided with an elongated slot, said slide being provided with a rib slidable in said slot, a knob on the rib for operating the slide.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

enonen M. THOMAS. 

